Google"s Android Is the Talk of the Mobile World Congress

AT&T may not be the only company worried about the iPhone soon to be offered by Verizon Wireless cutting into its business. According to the results of a new consumer survey, Google's Android mobile operating system and Research In Motion's BlackBerry may also be affected. United Sample (uSamp) recently surveyed 727 smartphone users and asked them whether or not they would switch to the Verizon iPhone. At 54 percent, more than half respondents that currently own a Verizon Android-based phone or BlackBerry said they would switch. Overall, 25 percent respondents said they are "very likely" to switch, while 29 percent are "somewhat likely" to abandon their old device for the Verizon iPhone. Separating Android from BlackBerry, 66 percent of BlackBerry users said they'll purchase an iPhone on Verizon, while 44 percent of Android users answered similarly. Current Verizon customers had specific reasons for wanting to purchase an iPhone, with many centered on the device's "cool" features. Sixty percent want the iPhone for its user interface, 58 percent cited its web browser, 51 percent cited its media capabilities, 43 percent are interested in its memory capacity and 41 percent want its camera. Current Verizon customers had specific reasons for wanting to purchase an iPhone, with many centered on the device's "cool" features. Sixty percent want the iPhone for its user interface, 58 percent cited its web browser, 51 percent cited its media capabilities, 43 percent are interested in its memory capacity and 41 percent want its camera. However, a good chunk of respondents still plan to stick with their Android and BlackBerry devices, about half by uSamp's count. Of those, 46 percent cited the cost of switching and 34 percent said they prefer their current keyboard to the one offered by the iPhone. Other reasons for remaining with their current phone included email and messaging, maps and GPS and customization and widgets. And in more bad news for AT&T, the survey revealed that 26 percent of the current AT&T customers polled said they will switch immediately. However, the remaining 74 percent said they would rather wait than switch to Verizon when the iPhone is made available on February 10. If the pre-order Verizon witnessed for the iPhone is any indication, the device will be a big hit among the company's customers. Verizon was forced to suspend pre-orders for the device on February 4, one day after they were offered, after what it said was the most successful first-day sales in its history. The company did not disclose how many iPhones it sold during the pre-order period, but the feat is impressive considering many were placed between the hours of 3 and 5 a.m.